The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-20
The Tories Propose to Meet the Difficulty with
Crimes Act, but There Is but Little Time
in Which to Prepare Such Law.
The Bulgarian Situation Still Contains
Elements of Serious Danger.
Pears that Further Efforts Will Be Made to
Foment Rising in the Army-St Peters
burg Students Profess Loyalty.
ERIN's RENT DAY.

ERIN's RENT DAY.
The First of May Will Probably witness q |
Reopening of the Troubles.
Special to tbs Indianapolis Journal
LONDON, March 19-In six weeks time, when |
the gala day. the LIST Of May. recurs, tho whole
rent difficulty will be reopened in ireland. The |
government are of opinion that that difficulty |
can be met by a crimes act and they hope to
find themselves in position to ask Parliament
to consider their measure on Monday Mean |
while the report of their royal commission is
staring them IN the face. The commissioners
are If anything, unwilling witnesses, but they
attest the truth of the assertions made in
vain by the Irish party last September
Their report declares emphatically that Irish
farmers are unable to pay judicial rents, owing
to the fall in prices, and to that fact it very
largely attributes the non-rent-paying combina-
tons of the tenants. If the next rent day comes
around before a legal remedy is provided for,
there will inevitably be a repetition of the
former agitation. The "Plan of Campaign"
will cover all the districts where reductions are
refused, and even where reductions are granted
there will certainly be the old friction between
landlord and tenant. If Mr.. Balfour Chief Sec
rotary for Ireland. thinks that he can deal with
this state of things by strengthening the
hands Of magistrates or suspending trial
by jury, he must either be remarkably sanguine
{ or remarkably blind to all recent experience.
What the government have to deal with is. after
NJ q very practical question--though its prac-
tic side is apt to be lost sight Of in the passion
and indignation which surround all Irish prob
lens. What social order there is in Ireland is
due to definite cause which the royal commits
] sion on Irish land have been at some pains to
= point out. When they appointed that commits
SIGN the government pledged themselves to act
Immediately on its recommendations. Instead
offulflling that pledge, they now propose to
postpone action until coercion bill has been
dragged through Parliament That will
nos be an easy matter Making allow
ance for the Easter recess, such bill
can hardly become a law for at least
two months. In the meantime another acute
agrarian crisis will have arisen in Ireland, and
With it an increase of disorder. Now, if the
government reverse this process, and postpone
their coercion bin until they have passed their
land bill. they may. at least avoid the imminent
dangers of the next rent day. The necessary
larsl till might be made q very simple matter.
If it enact tho recommendations of the commits
the period of the judicial leases, and it will
also admit all lease holders to the benefit
oS the land act. Such bill would remove
the cause of which the "Plan of Campaign"
is a result, and when passed 1t would be time
enough to see whether further measures were
necessary. True, the government expressed
desire to legislate the royal commission
recommends, but at present that is merely a
pious intention contingent on the happy passage
of their coercion bill. They should change the
order of events and proclaim urgency for their
land bill. If they do this they may dispense
with coercion altogether and save tenants and
landlords in Ireland from strife and misery.
Coercion may end in dire disaster.
Father Keller Sent to Prison for Contempt
DUBLIN. March 19.-Father Keller, who was
arrested at Youghal, yesterday was driven to
court to-day in the Lord Mayors carriage re-
ceiving an ovation from the people in the streets
The scene in the streets when ne was being
taken to court is unparalleled in the history of
Dublin. Vast crowds had collected, and when
the priest appeared, riding in the Lord Mayors
carriage cheer after cheer greeted him. The
noise and excitement, both inside and outside
the courtroom, were so great as to prevent the
bearing of the case and the judge threatened to
clear the court unless silence was maintained
Finally order restored and Father Keller
took the oath. He refused to testify on the
ground that he would disclose confidence reposed
In him as priest
The Judge said there was no legal justification
for his refusal, and that the question had no
reference to the witnesses spiritual capacity.
Father Keller was then committed for con-
tempt, and was taken out of court and placed in
cab in the custody of officers. The people
Immediately made a rush for the vehicle. re-
moved the horses and dragged it through the
streets to Kilmainham Jail, where the priest WAS
locked up.
Archbishop Walsh, of Dublin, was among the
spectators ir court, and he, Mr. William
O'Brien, Lord Mayor Sullivan, and Mr. limo
thy Harrington, n. P, followed the priest to
the Jail in carriages
Nearly the whole popu.ace followed Father
Keller from the court TO Kilmainham Jail, sing
ing God Save Ireland" and alternating now
and then, "We'll hang Judge Boyd to a sour
orange tree" for the benefit of the committing
magistrate. AS the people passed the SPOT
where the patriot Robert Emmett was executed
they uncovered their heads. Father Keller an
tered the Jail leaning on the arm of Archbishop
Walsh. subsequently Mr. William O'Briep
editor of United Ireland, addressed the crowd.
He said the conflict between the government,
and the people had commenced. and predicted
that it would end in destroying the Tory power
and the infamous system of alien misrule.
THE EASTERN SITUATION.